Breaking News: Millar excepts loss of everyday job, acknowledges it's Olerud's spot!!

[riverside sluggers]

Millar accepts loss of his everyday job

By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff | August 22, 2005

 

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar, benched again yesterday, acknowledged he has lost his everyday job, but said, ''John Olerud deserves to be playing 100 percent." Olerud, who came off the disabled list last Wednesday with a strained hamstring, has started three of the five games since he was activated, and after a bloop single in four trips yesterday, is batting .429 (6 for 14) since coming off the DL. Millar started the first game of the Angels series, singling in a run, then played again Saturday afternoon -- manager Terry Francona said he didn't want to test Olerud's hamstring in a day game after a night game -- and had another single.

 

He was on the bench yesterday, and figures to play intermittently going forward, but despite his disappointment he vowed it would not affect his role as team morale booster. ''It can't and it won't," said Millar, who was on the top step of the dugout all game long, offering support. ''I mean, John Olerud deserves to be playing 100 percent. I haven't been able to swing the bat the way I'm capable of, and we are at a point in the season where we have to do whatever gives us the best chance to win. If my job is to come off the bench in the eighth or ninth inning to help this team, then I will. I'll wait my turn and if I get a chance to play, I'll find a way to battle through it.

 

''It's definitely been a battle offensively. You look at players that are going through it. Steve Finley is going through it in Anaheim. Mike Lowell's been going through it all year [in Florida]. I obviously have not swung the bat the way I'm capable of. Everyone in this locker room has had a slump somewhere. This game tests you, but it's how you handle yourself in adversity."

 

Millar is just 4 for 30 (.133) in his last eight games, and the drop in his power has been a story all season. Millar has just four home runs, after a career-high 25 in 2003, his first season with the Sox, and 18 last year. Only 25 of his 99 hits have been for extra bases. His struggles on the road have been even more pronounced: only seven of his 47 hits have been for extra bases, with no home runs. He has gone 182 at-bats since his last homer, June 4 in Fenway Park. ''There are days I'm going to be in there," Millar said. ''I might be in right, I might be at first, I might be in left. There will be a matchup where I'll be ready to play and help the club win that night.

 

''This is not about me. This is not about ego. I think my teammates have been behind me through this whole thing. I think my manager has been behind me in this whole thing, and they still are. ''But right now, John Olerud is too good a player and swinging the bat too well. This is definitely what's best for us right now." Millar confirmed he had spoken with Francona about his change of status. His response?

 

''No problem," Millar said. ''Do what you've got to do. I'm not going to throw chairs or desks; you've got the wrong guy. Believe me, I've tried to battle through this. I'm not going to quit and I want to play every day, but right now until I produce, do you put John Olerud in there? Damn right."

[sarasoxfan]

I'll give him this, he know's he stinks.

 

I'll also say that he is handling it in the best interst of the team, so he gets points for that.

 

Onward and upward.

[soxie thefangirl]

He's being a good guy about this. It's not about him, his ego, etc. He's putting the team first. A lot of players today could learn from a guy like him how to go about things in a classy manner.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

That is why I said Millar wouldn't be a bad player to have on the bench. He says the right things and the team loves him. He can't hurt us enough to cost us a game or ruin the chemistry by sitting on the bench. The Red Sox are not fooling around and want to win the World Series....goodbye Bellhorn, move Schilling to the rotation, start Johnny Helmet full time.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Millar gets points for at least being realistic. I hope his attitude does change after a few weeks of riding the pine.

[mosox]

It's not as if he had a choice in the matter. He was given more than a fair shot by Tito. Maybe he can pop a few as a pinch hitter down the stretch.

[SCM33]

Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

[yankeessuck013]

thats awesome....but who paid him to say this

[YanksHater213]

Yay! This fixes another problem. Olerud has been amazing. Hopefully Millar can get a few good pinch hits. Its good to see hes not pouting about the situation, and hes taking it like a man, and acknowledging that he hasnt played well.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Damn what a great day today is.

[riverside sluggers]

and Trot comes back tomorrow to the Sox, yesss. now just Remlinger needs to be dealt with

[Soxfan1]

This is great. I guess millar is gone after this year.

[riverside sluggers]

that has already been determined. (1) He is a free agent starting in October (2) Sox are interested in White Sox 1st baseman Paul Konerko, but most likely they will go with who Sox management like, Aubrey Huff of the D-Rays. Huff is a cool guy with great defense and has the pull effect that would do good in Fenway, a nice addition to Red Sox Nation

[Sizzlin22]

Thank god that is all I need to say, I expected him to bitch about this.

[elsrbueno]

time for the biggest Millar hater on Talksox (and possibly the world) to chime in.

 

It's about time.

 

Millar on the bench is MUCH MUCH better than Millar in the lineup, however I still believe that the team would be better off with someone like Kevin Youkilis than Kevin Millar. If Kevin can't hit when he's playing every day, how is he going to hit if he's coming rusty off the bench? Plus, why keep a player who can't play defense or can't hit on your team? He's still wasting a roster spot that could be claimed by a better athlete and better baseball player, Kevin Youkilis.

 

This is a step in the right direction. However, given the fact that he can't hit lefties, can't hit on the road, can't hit in the playoffs, can't hit with runners on base, can't run, and can't play defense..... how is he going to HELP the team?

 

I honestly don't see the point of keeping him at all. I say DFA him and see if the Mets pick him up and try to get a PTBNL for him

[riverside sluggers]

Sox's clubhouse loyalty to him and the fact that he just has a f***ing month and a half left on his contract.

[Ray10]

At least the guy knows he sucks.

[BoSox21]

when has Millar not put the team first? It pisses me off to hear people say "oh wow, I figured he would bitch about this". He's always been a great team guy and yea he hasn't had the greatest of seasons but he's a big part of the personality of this team

[stocker323]

when has Millar not put the team first? It pisses me off to hear people say "oh wow, I figured he would bitch about this". He's always been a great team guy and yea he hasn't had the greatest of seasons but he's a big part of the personality of this team

Last year when he bitched about being benched for 1 game, when he was sucking.

[26 to 6]

he was bitching about having to possibly share time with Mientkiewicz in the offseason (before he got traded to the Mets)

[soxie thefangirl]

He's not bitching now. Possibly because, unlike Meintlksjdljksd, Olerud is a ridiculously amazing player.

[riverside sluggers]

at least Millar would give the Red Sox the ball back if he caught it. (2004 World Series final out)

[elsrbueno]

at least Millar would give the Red Sox the ball back if he caught it. (2004 World Series final out)

 

That's a big IF though, given Millar's defensive abilities and performance in the clutch.

 

OK, enough Millar bashing for now.... but has everyone forgotten that he also requested a trade earlier this season because he thought he wasn't getting ENOUGH playing time? Then when he realized nobody else wanted him he retracted his statement.

 

Millar's talking publicly about how he's OK with this because he knows the Red Sox (and Terry Francona) are the only team who'd still have him on a big league roster after how badly he's sucked this year... and how very little he contributes on the field.

[riverside sluggers]

That's a big IF though, given Millar's defensive abilities and performance in the clutch.

.

??

 

im talking about if Millar had caught the final out, he would give it back to the red sox organization. how was that bashing him?? I was Mienketwicz bashing

[elsrbueno]

.

??

 

im talking about if Millar had caught the final out, he would give it back to the red sox organization. how was that bashing him??

 

I was bashing him, saying "it's a big IF" that he catches the final out.... meaning he doesn't catch it.... because he's so horrible a baseball player.

[26 to 6]

at least Millar would give the Red Sox the ball back if he caught it. (2004 World Series final out)

How do you know, I think this ball situation is way overrated, the Sox didnt go looking for it or anything and it didnt become an issue until it was made public that Mientkiewicz had the ball. I didnt see John Henry or Lucchino on the field looking for the ball.

 

And even so, I wouldnt be surprised if Millar did the same thing.

[riverside sluggers]

yeah whatever dude

[sarasoxfan]

nice spelling soxie...

mkmaininsainnanz

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I personally used to call him Minty Fresh. I also think we should get the ball back that Johnny Damon hit for a leafoff homerun in game 4 because that was the winning hit.

[Sizzlin22]

How do you know, I think this ball situation is way overrated, the Sox didnt go looking for it or anything and it didnt become an issue until it was made public that Mientkiewicz had the ball. I didnt see John Henry or Lucchino on the field looking for the ball.

I don't think the ball is the first thing on your mind when you've jsut won the world series after 86 years. But hey maybe that's just me.